From Mugshots To Modeling

Today's Senior Portraits No Longer Done In A Flash

No, senior portrait day of years gone by, when getting a school picture meant fidgeting 15 minutes outside the school gym, then scooting through the photographic equivalent of an assembly line.

Now the blue-blazer brigade of early fall has given way at many area high schools to a class of seniors who treat picture day as if it were a photo shoot for Glamour or GQ.

The development seems to be in part a marketing phenomenon and in part an outgrowth of an increasingly visual age, when kids spend big money on the clothes and image popularized on TV, in magazines and in the movies.

"Kids are more sophisticated than they used to be," says Eileen King, who has been the yearbook adviser at Aurora West High School since 1973.

"I think they want to show what's so special about themselves," theorized Chris Blake, territory manager for Prestige Portraits in Elk Grove Village. "Kids are a lot more individual, and they want to find a look that's unique to them."

Blake said students have long requested a more extensive picture day, and it began to grow in importance about 10 years ago. He said that about 30 percent of the seniors even go to the company's studio, where they can take more time and play their favorite music over a sound system "so they feel more comfortable."

Some students bring as many as four changes of clothes, moving from evening gowns or tuxedos through dresses and sportcoats to perhaps jeans and a polo shirt or windbreaker with a baseball cap.

The backgrounds and poses are equally elaborate. Here's an example of just one shot: a beige filter over the light, a sparkly gold background, legs up on a platform, hands wrapped around knees. That, by the way, came with a casual outfit.

Often, the traditional head-and-shoulder shots are replaced by stylish three-quarter or full-body pictures.

Many students spend upward of 45 minutes with the photographer; in fact, the picture companies schedule only a few appointments each hour-a far cry from the days when they knocked out whole classes in a half-hour.

Some schools actually begin the process in August, before classes even start, and don't finish until early November. And it isn't just so kids can miss gym.

"When my sister was in high school, she only had the same poses-sitting down, except with her head turned one way or the other, or with your chin up or down or smiling or not smiling," said Susana Vazquez, 17, a senior at Aurora West. "I'd rather have a variety."

How's this for variety:

Vazquez began with a black, fitted dress, for eight shots in front of several backgrounds and lighting schemes. Then she changed-students used a storage room off the school's auditorium-into her first of two casual outfits. Eight more shots.

Then a second casual outfit, with four different poses.

"I'm more of a casual-type person," she said. "Through all of elementary, junior high school, high school, my mom made me dress up. I figured now I'm going to wear what I want."

Between each shot, the photographer switched lighting and backgrounds. He also tilted her head and shoulders just so. It was sort of like watching football-several seconds of action between minutes of preparation.

Vazquez's shoot took almost an hour.

She said that one picture will be for the yearbook-every student still has to take one formal head shot-and the rest will be for family and friends.

Some seniors apparently have plenty of both. One company offers a "Gallery" package that sells for $334.95. It includes 106 pictures, protective spray, a photo album and more. The cheapest package, 10 prints, goes for $39.95.

Ken Hester, the photographer at Aurora West, said that one student brought her horse to the studio. Others have been accompanied by their musical instruments, pets, girlfriends or parents.

Even some elementary schools, where pupils still get just one shot, offer a choice in backgrounds.

Jermaine Blakemore, 10, a 5th grader at Lincoln School in Bellwood, said that he chose "the conservatory" background this year. Dressed in a black tuxedo with gold lapels and buttons, Jermaine said the plain background "just didn't look right for me."

In previous years, he has chosen the "accent" background, the "confetti" background and the "sea breeze" background.

But high school is where some students have come to look more like Calvin Klein models than "before" shots for acne creams. Jessica Foerster, 18, an Aurora West senior, wore her prom dress because she didn't get enough pictures last spring. In August, she did a separate shoot, wearing her cross-country uniform.

Even guys seem to enjoy the dressup day. Many bring a suit, a casual outfit and a "sports" outfit.

"People usually judge you by your appearance," Taylor Tran, 17, said during his shoot at Aurora West.

"Hmm, should I wear my earrings or not?" he debated. "Maybe just one."